[Treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis by Fuyang-pot warming combined with electroacupuncture stimulation]

To observe the clinical therapeutic effect of Fuyang-pot warming combined with electroacupuncture (EA) in the treatment of scapulohumeral periarthritis (SPA).

A total of 90 cases of SPA patients were randomized into EA, Fuyang-pot warming and EA plus Fuyang-pot warming (combination) groups (n=30 per group). Fuyang-pot warming including pressing, mild moxibustion, scraping-pushing, cupping, tapping, etc. was applied to Fengchi (GB20), Dazhui (GV14), Jianjing (GB21), Jianyu (LI15), Zhongfu (LU1), Ashi-point, etc., and EA (2 Hz /100 Hz,1-1.5 mA) was appled to GB20, GV14, GB21, LI15, Binao (LI14), Tiaokou (ST38), Chengshan (BL57), Ashi-point, etc. The treatment was performed for 30 min every time, once every other day for 2 weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS, 0-10 points) was used to assess the pain severity. The Constant-Murley shoulder assessment scale (100 points in total, including 15 points in pain severity and 20 points in daily living activities, 40 points in joint motion range, and 25 points in myodynamia) was used to assess the functional state of the shoulder. The rating scale of the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES, 4 grades) was used to evaluate the ability of daily living activities.

Following the treatment, intra-group comparison showed that the VAS score was significantly reduced in the three groups in comparison with their own pre-treatment (P<0.01). The total scores of Constant-Murley scale, and scores of activities of daily living and active motion range, myodynamia, and ASES shoulder-joint function were all considerably increased in the three groups in comparison with their own pre-treatment (all P<0.01). The therapeutic effect of EA plus Fuyang-pot warming was significantly superior to that of simple EA and simple Fuyang-pot warming in reducing VAS score and increasing total score of Constant-Murley scale and scores of activities of daily living, active motion range, myodynamia as well as ASES shoulder joint function (P<0.01). Of the 30, 29 and 30 cases in the combination, EA and Fuyang-pot warming groups, 9, 2 and 4 were basically cured, 14, 8 and 12 experienced marked improvement, 4, 12 and 9 were improved, and 3, 7 and 5 failed in the treatment, with the cured plus effective rates being 76.67%, 34.48% and 53.33%, respectively. The cure plus effective rate was apparently higher in the combined treatment group than in the simple EA and simple Fuyang-pot warming groups (P<0.01), but had no significant difference between the simple EA and simple Fuyang-pot warming groups (P>0.05).

Fuyang-pot warming combined with EA is effective in relieving pain, and enhancing the daily life quality in scapulohumeral periarthritis patients.